Project bike?

[mrHB]

I'm no mechanic, and I have recently gotten my license with in the past. But in my search for looking for a first bike i found a 1079 Yamaha XT500, it is in running condition but kinda need some work on it (such as dents and surface rust.) The guy is $850 for it and my total bike budget is around $1,500. I love this style of bike and wouldn't mind having a project bike just as long as it doesn't become a money pit. So I'm just wondering if this would be a good deal or a waste?

Pictures of the bike can be viewed in the link bellow.

(link: https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/mcy/4051185429.html )

[J.M.]

Don't all project bikes become a money pit?

If you want it, go for it, but beware that you'll probably spend longer working on it than riding it!
____________________
2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[-Matt-]

Lovely bike

I'd just consider [unless youve given it a really good check over/run] if its a bit on the knackered side externally, it might be the same/on the way to being that way on the inside also.

So if you literally have no mechanical knowledge at all it may be lining yourself up for some problems.

That being said, i took a jump on a similar bike last year with at the time little if any mechanical knowledge, i've since [with the help of it being a simplistic-ish bike to work on as this one looks to be] got to grips with the majority of maintenance stuff, and subsequently started doing it on my main more complex bike also - so it can be a good instigator for learning to do it yourself if you have a bit of budget for getting tools and manuals together etc